With many of the matches announced for Wrestlemania XXIII , Richard Parr reviews some of the biggest rivalries from years gone by.
Wrestlemania XXIII is now just over three weeks away. With many of the feuds and matches starting to be announced,
Richard Parr reviews some of the biggest and most personal rivalries as looks back at the main events of Wrestlemania's XI - XIV.
WRESTLEMANIA XI - 2nd April 2, 1995
Bam Bam Bigelow v Lawrence Taylor
Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
Lawrence Taylor was one of the most famous and controversial NFL players of his generation. With his battle with Bam Bam Bigelow at the main event of Wrestlemania XI, once again WWE had crossed over into the world of other professional sports.
Bigelow's feud with Taylor all began at the Royal Rumble. As part of 'Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation, after Bigelow and his partner Tatanka had been eliminated from the Tag Team tournament, Taylor, sitting at ringside, began to mock Bigelow for his defeat. An incensed Bam Bam retaliated and shoved LT back into his seat.
With a complete disrespect shown by both parties, the inevitable score had to be settled and it was done so on the biggest stage of them all.
Although it was not officially declared a Lumberjack match, with so many wrestlers and athletes surrounding the ring the match definitely had that feel.
On Bigelow's side he had members from the Million Dollar Corporation. These were Ted DiBiase, IRS, King Kong Bundy, Tatanka, Kama and Nikolai Volkoff. To even up the numbers Taylor was backed up by other NFL greats. These were Ken Norton, Chris Spielman, Ricky Jackson, Carl Banks, Steve Mc Michael and Reggie White.
With the ring surrounded and the combatants in place Taylor and 'The Beast from the East' stood toe-to-toe and face-to-face. But this was only until LT slapped the taste out of Bigelow's mouth and clotheslined the wrestler over the ropes to the outside.
When Bam Bam returned to the ring Taylor began to impress many fans as he gave a bulldog and a succession of huge forearms to Bigleow's face. To the untrained eye many would have been shocked that this was Taylor's first match in a squared-circle.
After being knocked outside for a second time, when Bam Bam returned to the ring his experience allowed him to take the upperhand. Taylor's days looked numbered when 'The Beast from the East' locked in the Boston Crab. After a long arduous time in the submission hold LT was finally able to reach the ropes.
Despite a slight respite by performing a massive back suplex, Taylor continued to be dominated by Bigelow. The wrestler even had a chance to win the match after he executed a flying moonsault from the top rope. However as he landed on the mat Bigelow hit his knee meaning he took too long to pin LT.
With one big move already delivered by DiBiase's man, it was time for him to finish off LT with a second. Once again Bigelow rose to the top turnbuckle and connected with a flying headbutt. With the match seemingly over Bigelow laid across Taylor for the pin. Unbelievably LT was able to kick out.
This gave Taylor a second wind. He began to demolish Bigelow with a serious of very powerful shoulder thrusts and massive elbows to the jaw. Bam Bam just didn't have a clue what was happening. With the momentum going his way, Taylor flew off the top rope and delivered a devastating elbow to the mouth of Bigelow. With Bam Bam out for the count, Taylor laid down to get the 1-2-3.
Lawrence Taylor in his first ever match had defeated the experienced wrestler Bam Bam Bigelow.
WRESTLEMANIA XII - 31st March, 1996
Iron Man match for the WWE Championship: Shawn Michaels v Bret 'The Hitman' Hart (c)
Much has been written over the years about these two Superstars and their dislike for one another. But what cannot be denied is the fact that they are two of the best workers wrestling has ever seen. So whenever they locked horns it was always going to be a classic. Wrestlemania XII was no different.
Shawn Michaels had always dreamed of becoming the WWE Champion but that dream had yet to come true. His opponent Bret 'The Hitman' Hart was a three-time Champion and had no intention of losing his title.
This match would be different to any other normal Championship match. This was an Iron Man Match. This is where Michaels and Hart had to wrestle for 60 minutes and the Superstar with the most falls at the end would be declared the victor.
Being the Showstopper, Michaels would never enter the main event of Wrestlemania like any other Superstar. So to once again distinguish him from the rest Michaels abseiled down to the ring from the roof of Arrowhead Pond right into the middle of the crowd or as he called them: his 'cliq'.
With Bret Hart entering the arena in a more traditional approach referee Earl Hebner went through the rules with both of the competitors. The flamboyance of Michaels' entrance would not however be replicated at the beginning, and for most parts all, of the match.
Realising that they would have to last 60 minutes, even after all of their intensive training, both wrestlers knew they had to start slow. This meant the match was very technical from the offset.
Twenty minutes into the bout, after Bret's shoulder was rammed into the steel ring post on the outside, Michaels began to concentrate on working on that part of Hart's body.
As the match continued the momentum would frequently change between the two combatants. As neither one was able to fully take command of the bout, as the clock began to reach 60 the score was still 0-0.
However in the final minute, Michaels took another risk and flew from the top rope at Hart, only to miss. This was the opportunity Hart needed and with 30 seconds to go he applied the Sharpshooter to the Heartbreak Kid. With Michaels agonising in pain somehow he was able to last the remaining few seconds and the bell rang for the end of the contest. After an enduring 60 minutes the match was a scoreless tie.
Having not lost, Hart began to walk back to the dressing room area with his belt. This is when Gorilla Monsoon made his first decision as the new President. Monsoon declared that there must be a winner and that the match was to continue on sudden-death rules. This meant this first person to gain a pin-fall or submission would be the Champion. A flummoxed Hart begrudgingly returned to the ring and sudden-death commenced.
With bout back underway Hart Irish-whipped Michaels into the corner. As Michaels hit the turnbuckle Hart ran at the challenger only for Michaels to float over Hart and deliver out of no-where his Sweet Chin Music superkick.
HBK however was too tired to even pin Hart. But when Bret did rise back to his feet Michaels was able to execute a second superkick to the jaw of 'The Hitman'. This time Michaels did have enough energy to pin Hart and this time it was to the count of three.
After over an hour of wrestling Michaels had won the match and fulfilled his lifelong ambition. As Referee Hebner presented the title Michaels fell to his knees clutching and staring at his first ever WWE Championship.
WRESTLEMANIA XIII - 23rd March, 1997
WWE Championship match: The Undertaker v Sycho Sid (c)
Rosemont Horizon, Chicago, IL
The Undertaker versus Sycho Sid would provide Wrestlemania 13 a main event featuring two of the biggest and most domineering Superstars in the wrestling industry.
The Undertaker had defeated all that had been put in front of him but Sid believed he had one thing that was different to any of those opponents. That he had no fear of the Undertaker.
With the wrestlers in place and the stage set just as the bout was ready to start, Bret Hart made his way to the ring. Picking up a microphone Hart began to whine and complain about how his friendship with Undertaker was now over and that Sid was a fraud and that he should be the Champion. In response to these comments Sid powerbombed 'The Hitman', allowing the match to get underway.
With Sid's back turned, as he began to talk smack to Hart, Undertaker took the opportunity to attack Sid from behind. This advantage didn't last long once Sid clasped The Phenom into a bearhug.
Sid continued to have the advantage by maintaining his vertical base for most of the match. This was until both men fell to the mat after putting their boot in each others face. Sid managed to get up first but could only get a 2 count. This was the first sign that Sid was starting to get frustrated.
This forced Sid to slightly lose his command of the match. Undertaker then had Sid for the pickings as he had the Champion set up for the Tombstone Piledriver. Sid was able to wriggle out though and reverse it to instead deliver the Tombstone to the Undertaker instead. Sid again was only able to get a two-count.
Bret Hart then decided to return to the ring again. After being powerbombed earlier Hart got his retribution by smashing a chair into the back of Sycho Sid. The officials quickly gathered to return Hart to the back.
This was the opening Undertaker needed. After ramming Sid's back into the ring post, 'Taker then chokeslammed the Champion in the centre of the ring. This time it was Sid who was able to raise a shoulder at two.
With The Undertaker missing a flying clothesline Sid had the challenger all set up for a powerbomb. But once again Bret Hart came down to the ring to spoil proceedings. Sid went and hit Hart but the distraction worked because as he turned round the Undertaker tombstoned Sid. The result was then academic as the referee's hand went down three times and The Undertaker was declared new WWE Champion.
WRESTLEMANIA XIV - 29th March, 1998
WWE Championship match: Stone Cold Steve Austin v Shawn Michaels (c)
FleetCenter, Boston, MA
Fourteen years after Muhammad Ali had been special enforcer at the main event of the first Wrestlemania, another boxing World Heavyweight Champion would fulfil the same role, Mike Tyson.
In the weeks preceding Wrestlemania XIV, Tyson had made it clear where his allegiances would lie and as he made his way to the ring sporting a Degeneration X T-shirt it was clear for the whole world to see that he was there to back up Shawn Michaels.
After Austin purposely made way to the ring following the famous shattering glass, Michaels would once again try to upstage his opponent's entrance as he walked down to the ring with Triple H and Chyna to a live performance of his music.
Once Austin had gotten into the face of Tyson and given his opponent his traditional hand gesture it was time for the main event to get underway. Michaels began with a collection of jabs (supposedly taught by Tyson) on Austin. But to go toe-to-toe with Austin was not a good plan as Stone Cold would then dispatch a big clothesline on the Champion.
As the match spilled over onto the outside Triple H decided to get himself involved and rammed Austin into the steel steps. Already this was enough for referee Mike Chioda and he removed Triple H and Chyna from the ringside area.
The match would seesaw for both champion and challenger. Michaels however was given an advantage when he swung Austin's leg into the ring post. This allowed HBK to be able to concentrate on Austin's knee and in particular add pressure on it by applying a figure-four leglock. Austin finally turned the move over but Michaels escaped quickly.
The Heartbreak Kid would then perform another submission move. This time it was the sleeper. As Stone Cold tried to escape he used his body to try and push Michaels into the turnbuckles only for the referee to get caught in between, knocking him down in the process.
Austin momentarily took control as he began to 'stomp a mud-hole' into HBK. A flying forearm by Michaels would quickly put an end to that onslaught. With both men flat on the mat it was Michaels' cue to nip up and head to the top rope. The champion then connected with a flying elbow from the top. With Austin almost beaten Michaels began to tune up the band for some Sweet Chin Music.
As HBK's foot flew towards Austin, the challenger ducked the move and attempted a Stone Cold Stunner. Unfortunately for Austin that was blocked and then Michaels tried again to hit his superkick. Austin returned the favour by blocking that. But as Austin took a second attempt for a stunner that time it connected. With the referee down as Austin pinned Michaels it was Tyson who jumped into the ring to dispatch the three-count.
After 8 years of hard-work it was the beginning of the Austin era. To celebrate Austin came-to he was furious at the sight of 'the Baddest Man on the Planet' wearing an Austin shirt and began poking Tyson's chest. So when Shawn Michaels decided to strike the former Heavyweight Champion- Tyson delivered a lightning-fast punch to knock out the losing leader of DeGeneration X.
If you want to relive any of your favourite Wrestlemania memories or any other WWE moments on DVD go to www.silvervision.co.uk.
